Tenants have the right to have a safe and secure rental home. They also have the right to request repairs for items that may not be considered an emergency, but could still affect their usage of the property. Some repairs must happen immediately, while others may not need to happen at all. Here is an outline of tenant rights for repairs.
Tenant Rights For Repairs (1): Certain Repairs Must Happen Within 24 Hours.
There are certain things that are considered specific rights for a tenant in a leasing agreement for a rental unit. This includes hot water, working toilets, and locking exterior doors. Some jurisdictions may include a working refrigerator, additional household appliances, or access to the rental unit. Repairs in this classification must usually be completed within 24 hours or the tenant may be allowed to break the lease.
Tenant Rights For Repairs (2): Non-Essential Repairs May Occur In 10 Days Or As Needed.
Some repairs are not considered emergencies. This might include a broken interior door, a cracked ceramic tile, and other repairs that do not affect the safety or security of the home. Some jurisdictions require that these repairs occur within a 10 day period of the tenant giving notice. There may be no time limit involved either.
Tenant Rights For Repairs (3): Some Repairs Must Show Progress.
Some repairs, such as fixing a leaking roof, may not be able to be completed within 24 hours, yet the integrity of the home may still be in question. For exterior repairs that take additional time to be completed, a landlord may need to show the tenant that progress is being made to repair the situation. Landlords may be required to put a tenant up in a different unit or in a hotel for multi-day repairs that affect the health and safety of the home and protect the tenant’s personal belongings as well.
Tenant Rights For Repairs (4): Tenants Do Not Always Have The Right To Repair Items On Their Own.
Some tenants like to take care of a property on their own and may not every make a maintenance request. Tenants may not have this right, however, and alterations may be grounds for an eviction process to begin. If tenants do repair items on their own that are not 24 hour repairs, then they will typically need to pay for these repairs on their own. Some jurisdictions allow for emergency repairs to be made and then amount then deducted from the rent. All maintenance requests should be made in writing. Some jurisdictions make it possible for landlords to not respond until a written request is made. By knowing these tenant rights, the landlord/tenant relationship can be better managed so both sides can see profits realized.
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